Penholder



Oct. 1,'1-929. T TSUGE l l1,729,915

PENHOLDER Filed oct. 2b, 1928 gvwento .GMM y Patented Oct. 1, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PENHOLDER Application led October `20, 1928.

This invention relates to improvements in penholders and similar articles.

An object of my invention is to make a pen-holder graceful and elegent in its appearance and so light in its weight as to make constant writing with it even for many hours at a stretch a tireless task for its user.

A further object is to make an article of the above class, at a. low oost, by treating a natural product, Chinese millet, by a simple process.

My invention is illustrated diagrammatically in the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 shows the external side view and Fig. 2 shows a view, partly in section, of the penholder.

A stalk of kaoliang, Chinese millet, is cut into suitable lengths, leaving its skin unpeeled; one end of a out length is subjected to simultaneous heating and compression to give it a desired shape and increase itsdensity, so that it will firmly and securely hold a metal clamp which latter receives the pen-nib; and also simultaneously heating and compressing the other end of the cut length to give it a gradual tapering shape, or other desired coniiguration, as in ordinary pen-holders.

In Fig. 1 the stalk of kaoliang, Chinese millet, is cut into a desired length with its skin A unpeeled. By simultaneousl heating and compressing one end the part y is made very irm. At the outward end of this part a metal clamp D, for holding the pen-nib, is thrust longitudinally into the centre B of the stalk. An alternative process is to firsthave the metal clamp D for the pen-nib forced into the stalk and then to subject the stalk to simultaneous heating and compression so as to make the part C very firm. The two methods are regarded as equivalents for the purposes of this invention. The other end of the stalk is then also simultaneously heated and compressed so as to make it gradually taper at the end E just as in the case with the ordinary pen-holder.

As this invention utilizes, as explained in the above, the stalk of Kaoliang, Chinese millet, practically in its natural condition 5o to make it into a pen-holder through proc- Serial No. 313,849.

esses very much quicker and similar than that ordinarily employed, the cost of production will be much cheaper when compared with that of other pen-holders known hitherto. The skin A of the kaoliang, Chinese millet, being very strong with its smooth and bright surface, an varnishing or painting may be absolutely ispensed with. rThe moderate scorching effected at both ends through the heating and the compressing e0 process greatly improves the natural shade of the stalk. Compared with pen-holders made of other kind of material, the penholder manufactured by means of this invention is so much lighter in its weight as to make writing or ruling with it a tireless task even when continued for many hours.

Another merit of the pen-holder manufactured by means of this invention is that the names of parties or articles or the trade marks for an advertisement may be branded upon the skin A of the stalk and such an advertisement is made more effective by its elegance and novelty, especially when it is used as a gift or for the purpose of propaganda.

Having now fully described the details of my invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is z*- 1. The method of making pen-holders, which comprises cutting the stalk of Chinese millet into suitable lengths, heating and compressing one end of a cut length, thereby shaping and increasing the density of 'the material at said end, inserting and securing in said end a metal pen-nib retainer, and heating and compressing the other end of said cut length to reduce said other end to a desired configuration.

2. A pen-holder comprising a body of Chinese millet, said body having a pen-nib retainer inserted at one end, the material of the body at said end having increasable density, and the other end of said body shaped v into a desired configuration.

In testimony whereof I aiiiX signature here below.

TADAO TSUGE. 

